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LAVANA SAMUDRA
Encircling Jambūdvīpa, there exists a
mandalākāra (like the shape of two boats being placed face to face
upon each other) Lavanasamudra (salt ocean) having a surface
stretch of 10000 yojanas which increases to 200000 yojanas at
plane portion of Citrā earth. The surface stretch at depth of 1000
yojanas by traversing 95000 yojanas from the coast on both sides
each is 10000 yojanas. Thus radius of Lavanasamudra decreases by
95000 yojanas at a depth of 1000 yojanas i.e. 95 yojanas a yojana
in depth, or 95 angulas an angula in depth etc. Above the plane
portion, there arises a water tide 11000 yojanas high on the day
of amāvasyā (new noon-day) and regularly getting higher to the
extent of 16000 yojanas high on the day of Pūrnimā
(full-moon-day). Thus the water tide increases in height at the
rate of 333-1/3(16000
– 11000) x1/15 yojanas per day during the bright half of the lunar
month.
Pātālas
(
ikrky
)
Amidst the Samudra
In all the four directions of central
part of Lavanasamudra, there exist 1008 pātālas viz. 4
utkrsta pātālas (one in 4 directions each), 4 madhyama pātālas
(one in 4 directions each), 1000 jaghanoa pātālas in 8 directions
of middle of utkrsta and madhyama pātālas.
Four Utkrsta Pātālas
(
ikrky
) (Four maximal underworlds)
There are four pātālas viz. Pātālas
Kadambaka, Vadavāmukha and Yūpakesara situated in the eastern,
southern etc. directions respectively. A pātāla has 10000 yojanas
as diameter at the base and the face as well, 100000 yojanas as
depth (height) and diameter at its middle place. The thickness of
Vajramaya bhittikā of the pātālas is 500 yojanas. The pātālas are
similar to the araňjana- chata generated by lord Jinendra.
The upper-third portion of pātālas is always filled with water,
lower-third with dense air and the middle-third with water and air
both. The air in all the pātāas regularly increases during bright
half .of lunar month and decreases in the dark half. The daily
variation is 2222-2/9 yojanas. Thus on pūrnima (15th bright), the
upper-third remains filled with water |
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48
Jaina Geography
and the other middle-third and
lower-third with air whereas on amāvasyā (15th dark), the
lower-third is filled with air alone and the other middle-third
and upper-third with water. The water vapors spread out up to a
distance five times the diameter of the face of the pātāla. As
stated in 'Tattavārthārajavārtika', the dance of kinnarīs jiving
in khara (
[kj)
part of Ratnaprabhā earth makes the water increase by 500
yojanas and on both sides of Ratnavedikā to increase by 2
gavyūties.
The-size of the pātālas is like that
of a mrdanga (trumpet).
Their depth below samabhūmi is their
height. They reach 100000 yojanas down up to kharabhāga,
patikabhāga in Ratnaprabhā earth having a thickness of 180000
yojanas.
Four Madhyama Pātālas
There exist four madhyama pātālas, one
in four directions each.
A madhyama pātāla has
1000
yojanas as diameter at its base and
face both, 10000 yojanas as height (depth) and diameter at its
middle portion. The upper-third and lower-third parts are filled
with water and the middle-third part with air; one-third part is
equal to 10000/3 or 3333-1/3 yojanas. The daily variation
(increase or decrease) of water and air is 222-2/9 yojanas.
One Thousand Jaghanya Pātālas
In between utkrsta and madhyama
pātālas, there exist 1000 jaghanya (minimal) pātālas in all the
eight directions. The dimensions of a jaghanya pātālas is
one-tenth of the dimensions of a madhyama pātālas i.e. 100
yojanas as diameter at base and face both, 1000 yojanas as
height (depth) and diameter at the middle place. The upper-third
part is filled with water, lower-third with air and middle-third
with water and air. One-third part measures 333-1/8 (1000/3)
yojanas. The daily variation (increase or decrease) of water and
air is 22-2/9 yojanas.
142000 Towns of Nāgakumāra
Devas
There exist 72000 towns situated at
the outer pact, 42000 towns at the inner part and 28000 towns at
the top part of Lavanasamudra. The nāgakumāra devas protect the
samudra in their respective regions. These towns are situated in
celestial space at a distance at 700 yojanas from coast and a
height of 700-1/2
yojanas from top of samudra. A
town has a diameter of 1000 yojanas. Every town has jeweled
demarcation, velandharas, and palaces of
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LavalJa Samudra
49
bhujagadevas. These towns decorated
ever with Jina temples, vāpikās and orchards are indeed
describable.
Eight Parvatas Near the
Utkrsta Pātāla
Entering 42000 yojanas into the
samudra from a coast, there exist 8 parvatas. West to the
pātāla, there exist two silvery parvatas viz. Kaustubha
(
dkSLrqHk)
and Kaustubhāsa (dkSLrqHkkl),
each being 1000 yojanas high
and having the shape like that of ardhaghata
(v)Z?kV)
and vajramaya foundation and
many precious stones fixed at the front side. The oblique
stretch of a parvata is 116000 yojanas. The sum of the
distances from Jagatī (42000+42000) plus stretch of the
parvata becomes equal to 2 lakh yojanas.
These parvatas are silvery at their
middle places where Kaustubha and Kaustubhāsa devas known
after the names of parvatas respectively reside. Their
dimensions and ages are like those of the Vijaya devas. Udaka
and Udakābhāsa parvatas, bluish as nīlamani, are situated on
the northern and southern sides of Kadamba pātāla respectively
and Śiva and· Śivadeva reside over these parvatas
respectively. Their ages are equal to those of Kaustubha devas.
In the eastern and western directions of Vadavāmukha pātāla,
there exist respectively two parvatas-Śankha and Mahāsankha-appearing
like the colour of a Śankha each, having descriptions as
mentioned above. In the southern and northern directions of
Yūpakesarī pātāla, there exist respectively two parvatas-Daka
and Dakavāsa-each appearing like the colour of Vaidūryamani.
Lohita and Lohitānka devas reside upon them respectively.
Eight Solar Islands
At a distance of 42000 yojanas from
jagati of Jambūdvipa, there exist 8 Sūryadvīpas situated at
northern and southern sides of parvatas called Kaustubha etc.
as mentioned above. Jewels are twinkling there. In
Trilokasāra, there is a mention of
16
Candradvīpas (lunar islands) also.
At a distance of 42000 yojanas from the inner side and outer
side coasts, there exist 2 Sūryadvīpas in all the 4 directions
each, and 16 Candradvīpas exist on the sides of all the eight
directions, 2 Candradvīpas at every side. All these dvīpas
(islands) are circular land masses having a diameter of 42000
yojanas each.
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50
Jaina Geography
Gautama Dvīpa
At an inward distance of 12000
yojanas from the sea-coast there exists in the north-west
direction an island 'Gautamadvīpa' having 12000 yojanas as its
height and diameter each.
All these dvīpas have vana, upavana,
vedikās and Jina temples.
Nāgkumaras of Belandhara caste known
after the names of the respective dvīpas reside there.
Magadha Dvīpa
Near the Bharata ksetra, at a
distance of sankhyāta (numerate) yojanas from the southern
coast of the ocean, there exist three dvīpas-Māgadha, Varatanu
and Prabhāsa. That is, at a distance of several yojanas from
torana (pylon) dvāra of Gangā river, southern Vaijayanta dvāra
of Jambūdvīpa and Torana dvāra of Sindhu river, there exist
Māgadha, Varatanu and Prabhāsa dvīpas respectively. The devas
known after the names of these dvīpas respectively reside
there.
Similarly in the northern part of
Airāvata ksetra, Magadha, Varatanu and Prabhasa dvīpas are
situated in the sea-side of Raktodā river, next to the
Aparājita dvāra and at some distance from Raktā river
respectively. They are won over by the Cakravartīs in Airavata
ksetra.
48 Kumānusa Dvīpas
In Lavanasamudra, there exist 48
dvīpas of kumānusas-24 dvīpas in the inner and the outer parts
each. At a distance of 5000 yojanas from the Jagatī of
Jambūdvipa, there exists a dvīpa in 4 cardinal directions
each, and 5000 yojanas ahead a dvipa in 4 (north, etc.) extra
directions (vidiśās) (vāyavya, īśāna etc.) each. At a distance
of 550 yojanas ahead there exists a dvīpa in 8 intermediate
directions (antardiśās) (of diśās and vidiśās) each. There
exist 4 dvīpas in the two sides of Himavān and Vijayārdha
parvatas each at a distance of 600 yojanas from the jagatī,
and 4 dvīpas in the two sides af Shikharī and Vijayārdha
paravatas each at a distance of 600 yojanas inside the ocean.
The diameter of dvīpas in the diśās is 100 yojanas each, of
dvīpas in vidiśās 55 yojanas each, of dvīpas in antaradiśās
50, yojanas each, of dvīpas in the sides of parvatas 25
yojanas each. Thus there are 24 dvīpas towards the inner side
of Lavanasamudra and there are 24 dvīpas towards the outer
side of Lavanasamudra.
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Lava!la
Samudra 51
All these dvīpas have vanakhandas,
water tanks, flowers, fruits, sweet juice and water, Here
Kubhogabhūmi exists and living beings produced here are
called kumānusas They have irregular shapes. kumānusas in
the dvīpas situated in the diśās (east, south, etc.) are the
ones having a janghā (thigh), a tail; a horn and being dumb
respectively. kumānusas in dvipas situated in the vidiśās (āgneya
etc.) respectively are śaskulikarna, karna prāvarana,
lambakarna, and śasakarna. kumānusas in the 8 dvīpas
situated in the antardiśas are the ones having their face
like that of leo, horse, dog, buffalo, pig, śardūla (tiger),
owl and monkey, respectively. In the dvīpas adjacent to
Himavān parvata there exist kumānusas matsyamukha and
kālamukha; adjacent to southern Vijayārdha there exist
kumānusas -meśamukha and gomukha; and adjacent to Śikharī
parvata there exist kumānusas -meghamukha, vidyunmukha; and
adjacent to northern Vijayārdha parvata there exist
kumānusas -ādarśamukha, hastimuka, respectively. In all
these dvīpas ekoruka kumānusas live in caves and all eat
earth. Rest of the kumānusas lives under the trees and eat
fruit and flowers Tiloyapannatti 455).
Reasons for Taking Birth
in Kubhogabhūmi
Those who have wrong vision,
propitiate malign devas, have undue pride, insult Digambara
saints, do not respect gurus Properly, are devoid of
devotion towards arihantas, do Dot observe silence while
eating, are devoid of samyagjnana etc. are born as kumānusas.
In Trilokasāra, it is mentioned that those who are in
possession of bad thoughts, impure, afflicted by sūtaka
(lwrd)
pātaka (ikrd),
copulate with pregnant
menstracting (
jtLoyk
) woman, born hybrid form,
and donating to the non-deserving persons are born as
kumānusas in pairs. They have a height of one kośa and an
age as of one palya. They are born in order of merit of
castes of kumānusas. When they acquire samyakatva
(
lE;dRo
), they are born as pure
religious pairs.
Miscellaneous
There are coasts of Lavanasamudra.
Patālas also exist in it and
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52
Jaina Geography
not in any other samudras at
all. The height of water column in Lavanasamudra varies.
All other samudras have a depth of 1000 yojanas each and
the water maintains a plane surface above. Water of
Lavanasamudra is saline in taste. There exist water
animals in Lavanasamudra. The region of Lavanasamudra
where Matsya river falls into it, abounds in watery
animals like tortoise, simsamara and crocodile etc. who
have sizes ranging from 9 yojanas to 18 yojanas. Lanka of
Rāvana is also situated in this Lavanasamudra. Several
other Rāksasa dvīpas also exist in it (see Padma Purana,
parva 48). This dvīpa has a radius of 7 yojanas and
circumference a little more than 21 yojanas and has at its
centre a mount called as Trikūta parvata (just as Sumeru)
having 9 yojanas as height and 50 yojanas as breadth. At
the top of the Trikūta parvata, beautified with a variety
of trees, there exists a town known as Lankā which has
several jewels, precious stones, golden palaces etc. Lankā
town has a breadth of 30 yojanas in all the directions and
containing large prākāsrs and parikhās it looks like
another earth.
In the near hood of Lankā, there
exist some other natural regions made up of jewels,
precious stones and gold. They have beautiful towns where
Vidyādharas enjoy themselves in the worldly way at their
utmost. Some other dvīpas viz. Sandhyākāra, Subela,
Kāňcana Hrādana, Yodhana, Hamsa, Harisāgara and
Ardhasvarga etc. are capable of providing with all
comforts and pleasures. They are beautified with their
respective orchards and look like heavenly abodes.
Description in
Padmapurāna (Chapter Sixth, Verses
62
to
82)
Lavanasamudra has many dvīpas
and Kalpa-like trees. These dvīpas have many parvatas with
their tops beautified with precious stones. These dvīpas
have several towns with beautiful names: Sandhyākara,
Manohlāda, Subela, Kāňchana, Hariyodhana, Jaladhidhvāna,
Hansadvīpa, Bharaksama, Ardhasvargotkata, Āvarta, Vighata,
Rodhana, Amala, Kānta, Sphutatata, Ratnādvīpa, Toyāvalī,
Sara, Alanghana, Nabhobhānu and Ksema etc.
In north-west direction, there
exists in samudra a big island called Vānaradvīpa having a
diameter of 300 yojanas. At the centre of Vānaradvīpa,
there exists Kisku parvata made up of jewelled golden
slabs. Kisku parvata is alike to Trikūta parvata. Thus it
appears that there exist many dvīpas in Lavanasamudra.
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LavafJa Samudra
53
Lavanasamudra has a jagatī having a height of 8 yojanas
and breadth 12 yojanas at base, 8 yojanas at its middle
and 4 yojanas at its top. The description of vedikās,
vanakhanda and devanagara atop the jagatī is parallel to
the same as at the top of jagatī of Jambūdvipa.
Silāpatta and vana exist on the inner and outer sides of
the jagatī respectively. The outer circumference of the
jagatī measures 1581139 yojanas.
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Note:- In
this book most of the words have been used from the
Prakrit Language and while copying
the same there may be certain
errors in spite of our best efforts.
Any mistake noticed may be brought
to our notice for making
rectifications.
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